John Otero seeks election to M-W School Board

I am writing this letter to announce my candidacy for the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education. I moved into this area more than 14 years ago. Our main attraction to the Monroe-Woodbury area was its school district and the low crime.

Today, I am proud to say that my triplet 10-year-olds are currently attending this school system and I can’t be happier with their teachers and the school district’s forward thinking attitude.

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a forward-thinking, highly motivated, can-do attitude individual who believes that it is our responsibility to provide the children in our community with the necessary tools to excel in the competitive job market of the future.

I am a retired lieutenant commander of Detective Squad with the NYPD and was the commanding officer of the Computer Crime Squad. My educational background includes a master’s degree from Seton Hall University and a bachelor’s degree in computer technology from SUNY. I am presently a professor at St. John’s University where I manage the university’s cyber security bachelor’s degree program.

I am also a senior partner at BlackStorm Cyber Security & Forensics and I have more than15 years of managerial experience.

My goal, if elected to the Board of Education, is to provide our children with the best education possible while being mindful that many of us are struggling just to make ends meet. I support both fiscal responsibility and excellence in public education but this can only be achieved through positive school board leadership and collaboration with the community.

I admit that in the early 2000’s, I didn’t vote for the budget and more than once I stood in front of the voting booth and voted no straight down the line because I felt that our money was being mismanaged.

Before I officially decided to run for the board, I met with people who are for or against the budget, including sitting board members who have a stake in this election and I have read what’s been written in the newspapers and Web sites regarding the budget and the assessor’s comments and all of the controversy behind it. I have concluded that it is a good budget and not voting for it will ultimately cost us more. Please don’t take my word for it, research it yourself.

I am confident that my educational, professional and life experiences will allow me to execute my responsibilities as an active member of the school board to ensure our children’s future and that our tax dollars are used properly.

I am asking the voters of the Monroe-Woodbury School District to vote for me and my two other teammates, Natalie Brooks and Eleni Carter. If elected, I would work with all of my colleagues to boost parent involvement and strengthen a collaborative relationship between the school district and the taxpayers.

John Otero Central Valley